Digital Compass at Bargain Price

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #1 19-09-2006, 10:53 PM

I was at our Ballarat Aldi Store today getting the kids a whole stack of Munchies (it's school holidays here at the moment) and I accidently came across the Ascot Digital Compass. I have seen these on the net before and in ebay etc. They usually go for about $35-$55. You can set them to TRUE North/South too.

It gives True & Magnetic Direction, Temp, Time, Stopwatch for Photography etc.

Aldi has them for $19.95!!!!! So obviously I bought one. Works great!

Race out to Aldi and get one!

Here is the exact item on Oztion for a 'Buy it Now' price of $45.
http://www.oztion.com.au/-ASCOT-DIGI...on/448239.aspx

acropolite (Phil) · #2 20-09-2006, 08:11 AM

Looks like a good buy Ken. I have a digital compass and have found it needs to be dead level before giving accurate results, I'll be curious to see if yours has the same traits.

g__day (Matthew) · #3 21-09-2006, 01:01 AM

Any idea of both the pointing and timekeeping accuracy? From the readout on the compass it looks to give a readout to a degree (many cheap ones only give you direction if 5 degree increments). I wonder if its timekeeping is better than +/- 1 second a day?

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #4 21-09-2006, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acropolite

Looks like a good buy Ken. I have a digital compass and have found it needs to be dead level before giving accurate results, I'll be curious to see if yours has the same traits.

Phil, this one seems to work fine even on a slight angle. The instructions say to use it horizontally but It gave no variation when tilted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by g_day

Any idea of both the pointing and timekeeping accuracy? From the readout on the compass it looks to give a readout to a degree (many cheap ones only give you direction if 5 degree increments). I wonder if its timekeeping is better than +/- 1 second a day?

Without sounding like their salesman I can assure you that I have no idea to it's accuracy, but it has a 'Calibration' mode.

Yes, it is in single degree increments. The Compass actually shows direction using 3 different methods at the same time!!

To correspond with True Cardinal Points (as on a map) you can set in a Declination angle to align for + East or - West.

It also has an 'Error' message if the Earths Magnetic Field is distorted in the area it is being used.

As for time accuracy, so far the time is still matched to my computer.

The Thermometer has a +/- 1 degree accuracy.

I have no idea as to the actual quality of this product but $19.95 for a $35 - $55 product I ain't complaining. All I know is mine works well, and it will come in very handy.

ving (David) · #5 21-09-2006, 02:58 PM

is the screen backlit so you can read it at night?

h0ughy (David) · #6 21-09-2006, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ving

is the screen backlit so you can read it at night?

Ving also wants to know if it comes with fluffy dice, a foxtail aerial and woofers...........

. yep i have one, well actually 2, i thought I lost the one I bought, so then bought another one from aldi last year, then found the first one in a bag my son has. he still plays with it. good to go!

ving (David) · #7 21-09-2006, 03:24 PM

you answer sir hough-a-lot is most ambiguous... is that a yes or no

spudrick · #8 21-09-2006, 04:09 PM

Yes Ving it has the backlight in a soft blue and my one has all the Extras that Houghy wanted

ving (David) · #9 21-09-2006, 04:16 PM

hahahahaha!!! i'll have to get one

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #10 21-09-2006, 05:19 PM

Mine is a slightly different shape to Terry's. But same item

The Blue backlighting in it isn't annoying which is good. Doesn't seem to wreck my dark adaption.

rogerg (Roger) · #11 21-09-2006, 05:43 PM

Interesting, I've never heard of a digital compass. Do they use GPS to acquire the bearing and time ? Are there ones that point to celestial N/S vs magenetic N/S ?

I need a new compass, I'm wondering if this is a good choice. My old one is cheap and anoys me that it's so easily affected by metal and electromagnetic objects. Put it under the telescope tripod and it won't know N from E.

Thanks,
Roger.

h0ughy (David) · #12 21-09-2006, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ving

you answer sir hough-a-lot is most ambiguous... is that a yes or no

acropolite (Phil) · #13 22-09-2006, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogerg

Interesting, I've never heard of a digital compass

Roger, these devices use an electromagnetic sensor called a flux gate to detect magnetic north. Here's a simple explanation.

Exfso (Peter) · #14 25-09-2006, 01:01 AM

These look great, nice find, do you know if they have any left?

Nexus6 · #15 25-09-2006, 11:51 AM

It depends where you live.. I bought one on Friday in the North Sydney store....

snowyskiesau · #16 26-09-2006, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nexus6

It depends where you live.. I bought one on Friday in the North Sydney store....

FWIW: I bought one today at North Sydney and they still have some left.

gel · #17 26-09-2006, 04:48 PM

It works goddammit - got mine from aldi at warringah mall plus a 2 year warranty-wierd but true

Astroman (Andrew Wall) · #18 26-09-2006, 07:04 PM

aldi? never heard of them, what do they sell besides the compass? Trying to find a supplier here in Adelaide.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #19 26-09-2006, 08:52 PM

Andrew,

Aldi is a German Supermarket chain that has stores all over the world and they are spreading across Australia too. Very cheap on just about everything!

They mainly sell groceries (their own brand only) but they also sell electrical items and a bit of everything else.
http://www.aldi.com.au/

zillah · #20 23-03-2008, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Aldi has them for $19.95!!!!! So obviously I bought one. Works great!

I just came across your thread while I was searching google.

Could you please update me how is the compass that you had bought it from Aldi,,,,Are you happy with it ?

Could you please post the picture for that compass, because the link that you had posted says : "Sorry! This listing cannot be found.".

I will try to contact Aldi and see if they have got more in the stocks

Thanks